Medical Cannabis

We’re grateful to have amazing bonds with our Florida Medical Cannabis patients. We share a lot of hugs, big smiles, and tears in our offices.

Many of you come to us a last resort. You’ve lost hope in a system that doesn’t seem to care.

Your doctors push more and more drugs without knowing or caring about the side effects. If that’s been you, you know just how brutal those effects can be.

We see people everyday who were hopeless but now have life in their bones. They have color in their face and energy in their smile. They can handle life with more humor, grace, and love than they thought possible.

Because of our work, with a Florida Medical Marijuana Card, they can access a natural medicine to treat life’s emotional and physical pains. It’s an incredible honor.

Florida Medical Marijuana Cards

People congratulate us for stepping up to make getting your Medical Cannabis (‘marijuana’) Card in Florida easy. While we appreciate your appreciation, you should get the credit.

You educated yourself on the truth. You chose to exercise your Amendment 2 rights. You chose to confront skeptics. You are the champion of this story.

If you’re reading this, but you’re still in the shadows and afraid to speak out, here are some brave souls who might inspire you.

Step out of the ‘green closet’, it’s a lot more fun than the fear!

Medical Cannabis Cards Helping Patients Get Off Opiates

Out of respect of medical laws, we make no claims that getting Medical Cannabis Card will “get you off opiates.” But we can gratefully say that we have many patients who’ve been able to do exactly that.

Here is a brief list of a few who have felt the amazing effects of cannabis in their lives.

Be a hero and share the good green news! Thank you!

Florida voters passed Amendment 2 to authorize Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program on November 8, 2016 by over 71%. This amendment calls for the legalizing of medical marijuana in the state of Florida “for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or comparable debilitating conditions as determined by a licensed state physician.”

This creates an entirely new opportunity for patients to gain access to a potentially life-changing treatment for a variety of qualifying medical conditions.

But what are THC and CBD and how will Florida patients administer their medical marijuana as Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program moves forward and begins to operate? That’s what we’ll examine in this article.

Medical Grade Science

The major medicinal compounds in marijuana are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). One of the advantages to legal, medical marijuana is that it encourages growers to breed and tailor strains to specific conditions, effects, and profiles.

THC is the component of marijuana that gets users “high.” In this case, high means the effects most of us associate with the recreational use of marijuana. CBD is, generally, considered the healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety component of marijuana. CBD is also low in most marijuana strains unless the strain has been bred specifically to provide a high percentage of CBD for medical use.

Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program is breeding marijuana plants to yield low-THC and high-CBD. This is going to be a necessary component to growing and preparing cannabis medicines for use by Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program.

Rounding out these two major components are a varying terpenes. Terpenes often come in trace quantities in marijuana, though some medical strains are bred to be high in a range of terpenes. The terpene myrcene, for example, is considered to deliver a sedative effect. Another terpene caryophyllene, interacts with the human CB2receptor and is also found in black pepper and hops. Caryophyllene is anti-inflammatory, both internally and topically, according to the author of “Cannabis Pharmacy” Michael Backes

Administering Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program

Florida law specifically states how Medical Marijuana can and cannot be consumed by approved patients. According to the Marijuana Policy Project website: “Smoking medical cannabis, which does not include use of a vaporizer, is prohibited”

Why Not Smoking?

According to Michael Backes, the smoking of marijuana – particularly for medical purposes is controversial:

“The practice of smoking medicinal cannabis remains controversial because smoke contains noxious substances, some of which are linked to pulmonary disease and cancer in tobacco users. According to University of Mississippi research, cannabis smoke contains 1,500 different chemicals, including some known carcinogens. However research at UCLA, led my Donald Tashkin, found that long-term chronic smokers of cannabis did not have increased incidence of head, neck, or lung cancers.”

Clearly, Florida state lawmakers are playing it safe by prohibiting the administering of medical marijuana by smoking.

What is “Vaping?”

A medical cannabis vaporizer is an electric device that heats the marijuana flower or concentrate. It causes the THC, CBD and terpenes to vaporize and allows the patient to inhale the medicine.

This allows the patient to inhale all the medicine while avoiding the inhalation of unhealthy by-products.

Vaporizers range from desktop devices to small “ePens” that are popular in medically and recreationally legal states.

Your Next Step in Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program

The next step in the legal use of medical marijuana in the state of Florida is to fill out our free, HIPAA-compliant form and get registered on My Florida Green. Simply click on the “Get Started” button and you can have your first consultation done by one of our licensed medical professionals.

Want to Learn More About Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program?

If you’d like to learn more about the use of cannabis as a medicine, here are two great resources (Note, neither resource is affiliated with My Florida Green):

How We Help You Find Great Medical Marijuana Doctors

Nick and his team have been working hard on-boarding doctors who are ready to help facilitate patients’ needs.

Nick went on to say,

“After interviewing nearly 100 licensed medical marijuana Physicians in Florida I realized that most are not ready to participate due to an inherent risk factor. I’m proud to announce we’ve partnered with an exclusive group of family practice Physicians that are only interested in helping patients acquire this medicine at an affordable price.

I’ve weeded through many doctors that are sitting on the side lines and that are taking names and placing them on a list and doing nothing while these patients suffer with debilitating conditions. I’m proud to announce that we’ve established good relationships with an exclusive group of licensed physicians that are upholding their oath to treat illness. Amendment 2 has passed and the people have spoken!”

Software for Florida’s Medical Marijuana Doctors

My Florida Green has also teamed up with the popular doctor on demand application, TheDocApp, to provide HIPAA-compliant online qualification and appointment services to My Florida Green customers seeking Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors. Now you can get a certified Physician’s recommendation by establishing a relationship.

Recommendations by statewide board-certified Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors and patients with debilitating conditions. The result is a legal Medical Cannabis Recommendation with as little effort as possible.

f you were alarmed by recent news regarding Medical Cannabis safety after the tragic death of a child in Colorado you’re the victim of fake news.

Although it is certainly a terrible story, the blame the media is trying to place on cannabis is nothing more than a cheap scare tactic.

Media outlets and journalists who are pushing this narrative are trying to make their advertisers and big pharma backers happy with dirty publicity.

We all talk about how safe cannabis is, but is it as safe as advocates would have us believe? The short answer is yes. Despite slanted stories, cannabis has never killed anyone ever!

For proof here are a few quotes from the doctors involved in the study and others who are aware of it.

“We are absolutely not saying that marijuana killed that child.” Thomas Nappe, Co-author of the study in reference and Director of Medical Toxicology at St. Luke’s University Health Network.

“It would not be correct to go from this to a generalized panic about the lethality of cannabis. It’s just not there. This is not an omen of a disaster to come.” Keith Humphreys Stanford University psychiatry professor who served as a senior policy adviser regarding Medical Cannabis safety at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Obama administration.

“It’s not based on reality. It’s based on somebody kind of jumping the gun and making a conclusion, and scientifically you can’t do that. You just can’t make those statements because then what happens is lay people say, ‘Oh my God, did you hear a kid died from marijuana poisoning?’ and it can be sensationalized.” Noah Kaufman, a Northern Colorado emergency room physician.

The study that was published stated that cannabis MAY have been a contributing factor in the death of an 11-month-old child. This child had multiple preexisting conditions, and his parents were effectively transients living in a motel with severe drug and alcohol problems. Basically, the headlines are fake news.

Let’s talk about the numbers though. When we compare Medical Cannabis safety to any of its “peers” the evidence is overwhelming. For an average sized adult to overdose on cannabis, or any of its derivatives they would need to take over 15 pounds of active ingredients in under 15 minutes! Getting through 15 grams in that time period is probably impossible.

In pure concentrate form, a patient would need to ingest nearly $20,000 in product. That’s a 2-gallon bucket. If a patient were to smoke or vape it, they would need to fill a 10 foot by 10 foot hermetically sealed room with 100% smoke, and even then, it would be suffocation, not an overdose.

In any reasonable circumstance, no one can overdose on cannabis. It just isn’t feasible without a very specific set of circumstances, and most patients probably don’t have a Mythbuster’s lab in their back yard.

Cannabis is often compared to the “Big 3:” Tobacco, Alcohol, and Pharmaceuticals. Tobacco kills 480,000 Americans a year, and is legal in all 50 states to anyone over 18 years old. Alcohol kills more than 88,000 Americans a year and is also totally legal across the country to anyone over 21. Opioids are considered safer than medical cannabis according to the FDA, but kills between 64,000 and 66,000 Americans every year.

At what point does the FDA’s proclamation become a criminal offense?

If we added other pharmaceutical drugs, the amount of lives that cannabis could save is larger than the total number of Americans lost in every war we have ever fought…combined! That’s millions of Americans every year that could still be living happy healthy lives thanks to a plant.

Cannabis is even safer than baby powder! Yes, that “harmless” stuff designed for our bundles of joy kills an average of 12 people a year, yet cannabis is still at zero. If you’re still concerned about Medical Cannabis safety, here are a few other points to consider:

Pickles? 9 deaths a year.

Bedside Tables? 400+ deaths per year.

Bathroom Rugs? 80+ deaths per year.

Get the picture? Good, let’s move past the numbers.

At this point in a Medical Cannabis safety conversation, most people will start to argue the “gateway drug” argument. Since the numbers are in cannabis’ favor, it’s obvious that this is the next attempt to discredit the modern-day wonder cure. In the last 20 years a litany of studies and examples have shown that cannabis is an EXIT drug, rather than an entrance or “gateway” to harder substances.

note: The below paragraph is risky, big claims, science?

It has been found to be non-addictive in any physical way, and has been known to help rewire the receptors affected by opiates and amphetamines. Has anyone ever met a person smoking a joint that suddenly decided meth or crack was a great idea? Unlikely.

Recent studies have even suggested potential for cannabis to fight addictions, and is known to prevent patients from relying on other dangerous medications to circumvent the symptoms from their original medicine. In other words, Cannabis is the only “drug” out there (legal or illegal) that doesn’t need another drug to stop the side effects. Remember, it is a plant that grows from the earth! Compare this to the tragic yet FDA-approved chemicals and side effects offered by Big Pharma.

If we really wanted to dig into Medical Cannabis safety even history is on Team Green. Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Arab, and Native American peoples all have references to cannabis or hemp in their relics. The founding fathers may have grown hemp, and there is evidence of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson chewing on buds to relieve toothaches.

For over 4,000 years cannabis was known as a folk cure, and even the pinnacle of medical value across the world. Until recent decades, the Western world used cannabis as a common cure for a long list of ailments. During this time, the government and corporate interests began producing propaganda that referred to Cannabis as “Marijuana” and portrayed it as an evil “devil plant” for hobos, immigrants, and criminals. They did this because they knew that Cannabis and Hemp would radically disrupt their business models.

If cannabis hadn’t been outlawed, it’s industrial, medical, and recreational uses would have replaced dozens of industries. Hemp can replace plastic, concrete, wood, and nearly any other form of construction material. From paper to socks, and bricks to bumpers, Hemp is a miracle material that grows quickly and doesn’t require harmful pesticides or fertilizers (add another major industry to the hemp hater list!).

So, what is the deal then? If cannabis is so safe, so productive, and so helpful then why is it illegal? To be frank, the answer is right inside the question. Cannabis and Hemp could, and would, replace a series of major industries in America today. It’s obvious as to why corporate interests and the politicians to whom they “donate” are fighting this.

For people, and especially women, who grapple with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, the holidays can be overwhelming. Spiraling holiday gift costs, politically-charged dinner conversations, and stressful family members can all be triggers to anxiety attacks, bone-cracking stress, and chronic depression. If you’re one of these people, or know someone who is, you can be confident there is a solution for you. Millions of people–and over 65,000 just in Florida–are getting rapid, lasting, legal relief from these ailments with their Medical Marijuana Certifications.

Daunting Holiday Challenges Made Easier with Medical Marijuna

While most people look forward to the holidays with joy, wonder, and love, people that suffer from depression, generalized anxiety disorders, and PTSD often find it to be a horrible, draining experience that sends them into a manic downward spiral.

Afflicted people usually have no choice but to white-knuckle through it with tears and heartache, or attempt to find relief in synthetic medications like valium, prozac, or xanax.

For some, synthetic medications are effective and a worthwhile treatment. However their side effects are often disastrous and require risking your mental health to experiment with an ever-expanding mixture of ‘counter-balancing’ drugs to combat the side-effects. Even when they are effective, it’s often nothing more than placebo-driven!

If you want to know literally every cannabis benefit that’s ever been studied, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Over 17,000 individual listings can be found on PubMed.gov!

Once you’re educated on the scientific proof of medical cannabis, you can be comfortable and confident in your decision to proactively treat your emotional and physical needs.

If you’re concerned about “getting high” and just want relief, you’re among the vast majority of our patients who treat themselves with “micro-dosing.” By carefully measuring the dose, strain effects, and product profile, patients are able to get the relief they need while still being engaged in life, deeply involved with their families, and active in their communities.

Why The War on Medical Marijuana?

The origins of the modern war on drugs go back decades, the evil of the modern ‘War on Drugs” truly took form with the Nixon administration and men like John Ehrlichman.

It’s hard to forgive people like John Ehrlichman for the crimes they’ve committed against the people. Over the last fifty years of his cruel, ignorant, corrupt drug war, how many deaths have occurred? How many violent gangs have been funded? How many good lives have been demolished? Was it worth it?

Compare that with the 5,000 years legacy of medicinal cannabis.

“Medical Marijuana helps me to breathe!”

Many people drag themselves through the door in the middle of lung-crushing anxiety attacks. They walk like they have black holes in their chests and under their eyes, unable to cope with the physical and emotional stress they’re experiencing.

“I’m passionate about helping patients with medical marijuana because I’m helping myself with it. I treat my PTSD and anxiety with medical marijuana and it delivers a spark of healing that is profound, rapid, and lasting. When combined with mindful techniques like meditation, spiritual fulfillment, and conscious breathing, medical marijuana enables profound positive shifts in quality of life,” says My Florida Green’s Founder Nick Garulay.

Here in our clinic, Floridians who deserve medical marijuana certifications are transforming before our very eyes everyday. When they utilize their medical recommendations and follow their treatment plans, the amazing power of medical-grade marijuana takes effect.

The Medical Cannabis Entourage Effect

When it comes to the medical benefits of cannabis, it seems like there’s always another compound to discover, another level of healing to experience, and another medicinal effect to utilize. In this article we discuss a particularly interesting one: the cannabis entourage effect created by the mixing of the hundreds of compounds in it.

For example, if you already know about THC and CBD’s healing effects, have you heard about CBD and THC’s grand-daddy compound Cannabigerol, or CBG? It’s only available in cannabis’ raw form and studies have linked it to an incredible list of benefits:

The reason cannabis’ healing manifests in the human body with so much power is largely due to what’s called the cannabis entourage effect. This is due to the hundreds of therapeutic compounds like CBG and also “terpenes” like linalool, caryophyllene, myrcene, and others.

Each of these little chemicals packs it’s own unique profile of effects, flavors, and smells to each strain of cannabis. Myrcene for example can assist other cannabis compounds in passing the blood-brain barrier, pinene can counteract memory issues, and caryophyllene is a powerful anti-anxiety medication.

These various strains of cannabis have a mixture of these compounds and is why they all have such a wide variety of effects, smells, and benefits.

Who Discovered The Cannabis Entourage Effects?

Originally discovered by Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam, the synergistic effects are achieved when THC-A (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) interacts with phytocannabinoids, like cannabidiol and other terpenes. Mechoulam is also credited with discovering the endocannabinoid neurotransmitters anandamide and 2-AG.

For an easier to digest review, the below video from our pals at Leafly.com is excellent.

Anyone willing to question the righteous authority of pharmaceutical advertising and do their research on medical cannabis or the medical cannabis entourage effect will find that the science is truly settled.

Knowing this, it’s challenging to understand how cannabis skeptics can be aware of this scientific proof, have any awareness of the tragic side effects of opiates, and not howl from the rooftops in support of medical marijuana.

If you’re a physician who’s already recommending medical marijuana, or considering doing so, we should discuss becoming a My Florida Green physician. We partner with doctors who support medical marijuana across the state and have streamlined the most frustrating parts of the medical marijuana certificationprocess.

As a My Florida Green doctor you’ll have access to a turn-key system that makes it safer and far easier to recommend medical marijuana to your patients.

If you believe in the medicinal power of medical cannabis or the cannabis entourage effect or have patients who will benefit, you can explore the benefits becoming a My Florida Green physician here.

For patients or doctors that are still skeptical, or already believe in medical cannabis and the cannabis entourage effect, the below article does a excellent job of detailing the science behind the incredible effects of two of cannabis’ root compounds: THC-A and CBD-A.

THC-A and CBD-A: What are the Benefits?

As much as we might be tempted to speak in terms of competing substances when it comes to the healing properties of marijuana, the truth is that what makes cannabis so remarkable on so many fronts is the synergy that appears to occur between all the substances within it.

Since visionary cannabinoid researcher Raphael Mechoulam began writing about the “Cannabis Entourage Effect” in the mid-nineties, science has been learning more and more about how each molecular component of the cannabis plant works together for healing on a multitude of levels. This is true for the state one finds these substances as well. THC-A and CBD-A are both found in the natural, raw, live cannabis plant. And recent research is discovering that both have powerful properties of their own when it comes to treating disease, especially cancer.

What are THC-A and CBD-A?

Cannabidolic Acid (CBD-A) and Tetrahydrocannabonolic Acid (THC-A) are similar in a lot of ways. Both are acid-based substances found in the raw, living cannabis plant. Both are completely non-psychoactive. And both convert to their counterparts—CBD and THC respectfully– when heated above a certain temperature (roughly between 200 to 290 F for THC-A and between 240 F to 290 F for CBD-A).

The process through which these “A” substances are able to turn into their better-known counterparts is called decarboxylation. This is because both THC-A and CBD-A lose carbon atoms to form THC and CBD when heated.The most common way that decarboxylation occurs is through smoking or vaping, although cooking and baking cannabis, such as for making edibles, will stimulate decarboxylation as well.

THC-A and CBD-A are similar in one more important way: both of these cannabinoids can help with healing some of the most serious disease conditions.

The Cancer-Healing Power of CBD-A

CBD-A has been in the news a lot lately, mostly for the new-found ways it has shown to inhibit cancer. The link between cancer and CBD-A was catalyzed by a 2012 study that took a look at CBD-A’s effect on breast cancer cells. This and subsequent studies discovered that CBD-A in raw cannabis can suppress the COX-2 enzyme, a major instigator of breast cancer metastasis, as well as other forms of cancer.

The latest study, published in January 2017 in the Journal of Natural Medicine by researchers at Hiroshima International University, adds further light to the subject. The researchers discovered a possible way that CBD-A inhibits the COX-2 enzyme in highly-aggressive breast cancer tumors. Their study focused on CBD-A’s inhibition of proto oncogene c-Fos, a common precursor to proteins involved in cancer metastasis.

CBD-A along with THC-A have also been known for some time for its anti-inflammatory effects; in fact, this is a large part of what makes it a potential cancer-killer. A 2011 Swedish study evaluated six different cannabinoids—CBD-A and THC-A as well as THC, CBD, CBDA, CBG and CBGA– for their effects on inflammatory processes, including COX-2. They found that all six of these substances together had a profound effect on inflammatory processes in laboratory colon cancer cell lines. According to the researchers:

“The Endocannabinoids are structurally similar to arachidonic acid and have been suggested to interfere with the inflammatory process. They have also been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.”

Arachidonic acid is an Omega-6 fatty acid which is a necessary element in the body for brain health and overall functioning of almost every system in the body. It is an anti-oxidant and mediator of harmful inflammatory reactions such as the ones that occur with major illnesses like cancer. The study’s discovery of endocannabinoid structures which are similar to those of other healing substances in the body is exciting. It is further proof of cannabis’ ability to balance the endocannabinoid system for overall disease healing.

THC-A: A Potent and Still-Mysterious Healer

While there is still much research that needs to be done on CBD-A, there is even more that remains a mystery about THC-A, the non-psychoactive, raw (before decarboxylation) form of THC. The Swedish study mentioned above as well as a few other studies, however, have proven that THC-A is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well.

As such, it is also thought to have anti-proliferative effects against cancer growth and metastasis. It is also a known neuro-protectant, an anti-spasmodic and a powerful endocannabinoid for pain.

THC-A has also been shown to be an immune-system regulator. According to the latest science, THC-A effects the endocannabinoid system as a whole, not just CB1 receptors. THC-A can affect the release of inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2 as well as TNF-Alpha. It also aids in the production of interleukin-10. This powerful anti-inflammatory cytokine, also known as Human Cytokine Synthesis Inhibitory Factor (CSIF), is produced by T Cells in the immune system.

While CBD has been known for its effects on epilepsy and seizures for some time, and in recent years ∆9-THC has been found to be helpful, new research is pointing to THC-A’s benefits on this front as well. Among the most current investigations was a studyconducted by the University of Alabama and published in the January 10, 2017 edition of the medical journal Epilepsy and Behavior.

More Research Needed on Both CBD-A and THC-A

The research that does exist on the health benefits of both CBD-A and THC-A, especially when it comes to cancer, provides great news for those who want to heal with cannabis but whose systems may not respond positively to the psycho-active effects of THC.

Hopefully, with more and more states opening their doors to medical marijuana (the whole plant, not just CBD) and with research into Marijuana Entourage Effect in states like Colorado beginning to trickle in, more results will happen regarding substances that exist in the natural, raw cannabis plant, like CBD-A and THC-A, as well.

We appreciate that some people’s negative perception of medical marijuana as a drug has some basis in fact–it can be abused, and it can create problems in people’s lives. So can taking too much Vitamin C, so can doing too much hot yoga, so can lifting too much weights with the wrong form.

Guidance, knowledge, and control from qualified medical professionals is essential to a good experience. Social support communities like My Florida Green’s are also needed to ensure medical marijuana is utilized as medicine and not as a drug that impairs our ability to serve ourselves, our families, and our communities.

High Performance Pot

Dr. Suzanne Sisley

“I think all athletes—whether they’re NFL or NBA pros or just serious athletes wanting to better their fitness—are learning about the therapeutic potential of this plant,” says Suzanne Sisley, M.D., an Arizona-based physician and psychiatrist affiliated with the advocacy group Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, who regularly treats pro athletes’ sports-related injuries.

“Athletes are teaching each other how to do this. It’s like a peer-mentoring process.”

Our recent post Why Chronic Pain Stops with Medical Marijuana details why the medicine is so powerful, how it interacts with our endocannabinoid system, and what people can do now to start getting relief from their physical and emotional ailments.

Medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those listed above

A terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the certification

Chronic malignant pain

It’s also worth noting that the majority of our medical marijuana patients here in Southwest Florida are over 50! Not exactly high school kids sneaking away under the bleachers!

Even with those conditions and truths in mind, people are often surprised at how powerful and beneficial the effects of medical marijuana can be for athletic performance.

The Greatest Olympian Ever Believes in Medical Marijuana

Thousands of young swimmers have trained hard, sacrificed, and honed their skills to pursue the success of Michael Phelps. None have succeeded like he has, and few have been labeled as marijuana users.

Now I’m not saying that smokers are likely to break into athletic halls of fame just because of medical marijuana, but the anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, and appetite-stimulating properties of marijuana have profound benefits. Especially for athletes seeking to recover from strenuous exercise, mentally relax after bone-crushing competition, and extend their careers.

NBA Champions like Steve Kerr, UFC fighters like Nate Diaz, and Super Bowl champions like Von Miller all attest to the healing powers of cannabis, and reject the false social stigma that marijuana ruins people’s physical and mental potential.

Fellow UFC legend Bas Rutten is an advocate of the medicine, but cites the need for high quality producers, dispensaries, and doctors–a sentiment we passionately endorse!

“There are so many fake things out there—everybody’s bought stuff that doesn’t work, and it’s a shame,” says Rutten.

Despite major athletes endorsing medical marijuana, the NFL and others professional sports organizations continue to ban the plant, punish players who utilize it, and force injured players into the deadly, addictive world of opiates.

Doctors Endorsing a Better Way

With approximately 5,000,000 sports concussions occurring annually, we face the steady tick-tock of a time bomb as these concussions begin to manifest in CTE and brain health issues.

“There’s already substantial data suggesting that cannabis can promote neuroprotection,” says Dr. Sisley, who will begin a study on NFL players and medical marijuana use for CTE in late 2017.

“And it can be really useful for athletes experiencing multiple head injuries. They could use it as a preventive tool for brain repair.”

Recent studies are also showing that low doses of cannabis can even halt brain damage! Shocking results to people that think all all users of marijuana turn into brain-dead junkies! When used properly, people are finding that this incredible plant is actually good for the brain, body, and human spirit.

Waking Up to Reality

As we collectively wake up from the propaganda, false opinions, and hasty judgements of the past, we are coming to realize that human beings and cannabis plants are deeply connected, profoundly synergistic, and made to work together. At My Florida Green it is our incredible honor to help people who are suffering find relief, live more fulfilling lives, and reduce the often disastrous side effects of synthetic drugs.

PTSD, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, AND YOU

We all go through traumatic events in life. Usually we make it through the other side without lasting damage and end up learning profound “silver lining” life lessons. However all too often we or our loved ones are crippled by traumatic physical and emotional wounds that leave us in a state of “fight or flight” anxiety, pain, and anguish. These symptoms compose Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or “PTSD.” Suffering patients are now finding incredible results using Medical Marijuana for PTSD.

Common causes can include the unexpected death of a loved one, childhood trauma, sexual abuse, poor social support systems, mental illness, and substance abuse, among many others.

Medical Marijuana for PTSD Combined with Therapeutic Options

Therapeutic options

Therapeutic options include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and group therapy. If you’re struggling, show your strength by getting therapy, you don’t have to do it alone. Combined with medical marijuana, people in Florida with PTSD have new hope for the future.

Synthetic Pharmaceuticals

SNRIs: MayoClinic.com states that they, “ease depression by impacting chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) used to communicate between brain cells. Like most antidepressants, SNRIs work by ultimately effecting changes in brain chemistry and communication in brain nerve cell circuitry known to regulate mood, to help relieve depression. SNRIs block the re-absorption (reuptake) of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Common examples include Pristiq, Khedezla, Cymbalta, Fetzima, Effexor XR.

SSRIs: according to WebMD, “SSRIs work by enhancing the function of nerve cells in the brain that regulate emotion [and] help make more serotonin available by blocking the reuptake process.” Examples include Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft.

Prazosin: WebMD describes the relationship between of Prazosin and PTSD, “If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), your body may release too much adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone that can make you feel stressed and have nightmares. Prazosin blocks some of the effects of adrenaline released in your body. This may help reduce the nightmares and sleep problems you have with PTSD.”

Anti-Anxiety medicines: PubMed.gov says that, “It is difficult to choose among the many drugs advocated for treating anxiety symptoms. The barbiturates were the most commonly used anti-anxiety agents until recently but are being superseded by the benzodiazepines.”

For more information on Medical Marijuana for PTSD please contact us here at My Florida Green to schedule your medical assessment. Our patients speak with a qualified medical professional to create a treatment plan for your symptoms.

Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain

It’s challenging the admiration, respect, and appreciation we have for our patients using medical marijuana for chronic pain. You consistently rise to the occasion, put a smile on your face, and carry on–in spite of the incredible trials you’ve been through.

Opiates slow neural activity in the brain, and the longer they’re used, the more pronounced the effect becomes.

This often leads to physical lethargy and emotional ‘flat-lining’ into negative emotional states.

When opiates interact with the receptors in the brain, the brain interprets them as signals of well-being and releases dopamine. Normally this is a positive system and rewards us for achievement, physical action, or love with others–but with opiates it is a hollow recipe for co-dependence, addiction, and depression.

Symptoms of opiate-driven depression are similar to ‘traditional’ depression and include isolation, loss of interest in hobbies, and failures at work. The hard reality of this cycle sets in quickly and requires great effort to escape. If you’re struggling with opiate addiction please contact Narcotics Anonymous or the rehab center of your choosing for help.

Why Are Opiates Everywhere?

“The drug industry, the manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and chain drugstores, have an influence over Congress that has never been seen before,” said Joseph T. Rannazzisi, who ran the DEA’s division responsible for regulating the drug industry and led a decade-long campaign of aggressive enforcement until he was forced out of the agency in 2015.

“I mean, to get Congress to pass a bill to protect their interests in the height of an opioid epidemic just shows me how much influence they have.”

With the scale of this corruption known, and the total pain relief market at $24B, it’s unsurprising to see that we are in this crisis. The data from the American Society of Addiction Medicine is staggering.

Over 250 million prescriptions are written for opiates per year

Over 52,404 lethal overdoses occur per year (We all know this data is suppressed)

From 2010 to 2016 opiate addiction increased by 493%

Of the 20 million Americans with substance abuse problems, 2 million are addicted to opiates

In 2015, 276,000 adolescents were non-medical users of pain relievers with were 122,000 addicted

These numbers are shocking and warrant immediate action towards a remedy.

How Cannabis Stops Chronic Pain

“People suffering from depression…tend to experience more severe and long-lasting pain than other people.” –Health.harvard.edu

As anyone that has suffered will attest, depression hurts, depression causes pain. And this cyclical relationship between pain, anxiety, and depression makes it incredibly difficult to treat with one medication or one treatment approach because it often ignores one or the other’s symptoms.

SSRIs do have efficacy for both disorders, but as previous articles on this site have discussed, there are downsides to these synthetic drugs that include gastrointestinal bleeding, increased suicide risk, and worsening mental illness.

The Endocannabinoid Miracle

If you haven’t heard of it, there is a fascinating part of your physiology called the endocannabinoid system. This is part of us from birth and is an internal (‘endo’ meaning internal) system that regulates a wide variety of body functions from fertility, to cognitive processing, appetite, mood, memory, and processing the Medical Marijuana ‘exogenous’ cannabinoids that you vape or ingest.

These wonderful compounds are also what you feel during a ‘runner’s high’ or other physical exercise.

The endocannabinoid system has been recently recognized as an important modulatory system in the function of brain, endocrine, and immune tissues. It appears to play a very important regulatory role in the secretion of hormones related to reproductive functions and response to stress.

Unfortunately, our supply of these amazing compounds that regulates how we feel becomes deficient over time, our bodies fall out of balanced homeostasis, and health difficulties are produced. But by supplementing your system with medical marijuana for chronic pain and getting exogenous cannabinoids, you can promote harmonic balance, which is what the body needs to achieve in order to heal naturally.

A potent general pain reliever, Afghan Kush comprises of almost 100 percent indica. Its effects are felt mostly physically, and this is why it works so well regarding pain relief. Afghan Kush contains anti-inflammatory and painkilling terpenes, as well as a high level of pain-dispelling THC.

This strain contains caryophyllene, which is known to work against cancer. Therefore, if your chronic pain is cancer-related, this could offer you relief. Other useful strains high in caryophyllene include Super Sour Diesel, Maui Waui and Hash Plant.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a hybrid sativa that was first grown in California. It provides not only relaxation throughout the entire body, but many users also find it to be invigorating. This strain produces a mellow euphoria that produces a calming effect and also has an aroma similar to berries. Since it doesn’t result in the sedative effects of other strains, Blue Dream is well-suited for daytime use.

Granddaddy Purple

Another Californian type, Granddaddy Purple has been in existence for approximately 15 years. This strain can be potent, so don’t use it if you plan to go out during the day or the evening. Patients use Granddaddy Purple to relieve symptoms from pain, muscle spasms, stress, insomnia and more.

Girl Scout Cookies

This is another hybrid with a sweet aroma that’s very easy to spot, thanks to its orange hairs and purple leaves. This strain is well-known for producing a feeling of relaxation throughout the body and is popular among people who suffer from not only severe pain but also nausea and loss of appetite. The Girl Scout Cookies strain is best taken in small doses until you’re certain of how much you can handle at one time.

Jack Herer

A well-known strain for easing nerve pain, Jack Herer, named after the author and activist, is high in sativa. Filled with natural painkillers, Jack Herer contains pinene that has anti-tumor properties.

White Widow

A half-and-half cross between a pure indica and a pure sativa, this is a well-balanced strain that makes you feel uplifted while tackling your pain. White Widow also contains Linalool, an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever that’s also found in lavender.

Finding a Solution

For those of you that are suffering from chronic pain and are ready for a natural solution that can restore your balance, treat a wide variety of physical and emotional ailments, and get you back to living life with joy, fill out our questionnaire and get started with Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain today!

Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program: In Need of An Immediate Remedy

There are over 1,000 licensed physicians registered with the office of Medical Marijuana Use, which by the way was formerly titled The Office of Compassionate Use. The current version of the bill signed by Governor Rick Scott stripped the word compassion from verbiage and some would say the compassion was stripped from the entire program as well.

Out of the 1,000 + physicians, 900 of them are reluctant to incorporate medical marijuana into their practice because the rules the Florida Department of Health have implemented are incredibly vague and restrictive. Most physicians with an established brick and mortar practice are not willing to risk their established business to evaluate, treat, certify, and make a recommendation for medical marijuana.

Many Physicians nationwide in states where marijuana is legal for medical use have been harassed, targeted by Federal Law Enforcement Agents, and even arrested. Out of the estimated 1000 Physicians that are participating in Florida’s medical marijuana initiative, less than half are practicing proper protocols with regard to the guidance set forth by the Florida Department of Health.

Doctors Need to Know The Facts

Physicians have been trained to evaluate a patient and if necessary, write a prescription for a certain drug that could have a therapeutic benefit to a specific ailment or condition. With regard to Medical Marijuana, physicians are instructed to write a recommendation not a prescription, like they are so accustomed to.This leads to a broad spectrum of dosages, strains, method of administering the medicine etc. Most participating Physicians lack the knowledge and experience to adequately treat and recommend medical marijuana for their patients.

An important fact to consider is Medical Marijuana is a recommendation, not a prescription. You can’t prescribe a plant! Every patient is unique with many variables such as varying tolerances to the medicine and how the body metabolizes it. Patients metabolize and process THC and CBD, the 2 most active compounds of the plant very differently from one another. This presents a challenge to Physicians who are trying to accurately recommend a specific measured dose for a qualifying condition.

“This is a recommendation, not a prescription. There is no scientific data regarding specific dosing. Start low and slowly increase your dose to avoid adverse reactions”

Let’s elaborate on dosing for a moment. In November of 2016, the people of Florida decided with an overwhelming majority to pass Amendment 2. Under Amendment 2, “flower” (the green bud of the plant) is not an acceptable derivative to recommend to a patient.

The Florida Legislature passed, and Governor Rick Scott signed, a provision that defines “medical use” to exclude “possession, use or administration of marijuana in a form for smoking.”

Arguing that Florida state legislators violated voters’ intent when they prohibited smoking for the medical use of marijuana, John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who spearheaded and financed the successful campaign to make medical access to cannabis a constitutional right, filed a lawsuit in Leon County Circuit Court on July 6, 2017, asking the court to declare the law implementing the 2016 constitutional amendment unenforceable.

“Inhalation is a medically effective and efficient way to deliver Tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], and other cannabinoids, to the bloodstream. By redefining the constitutionally defined term ‘medical use’ to exclude smoking, the Legislature substitutes its medical judgment for that of ‘a licensed Florida physician’ and is in direct conflict with the specifically articulated Constitutional process,” the lawsuit states.

Morgan’s lawsuit claims that provision “redefined and narrowed the definition of marijuana in direct conflict” with the Constitution.

There are several opinions for Medical Marijuana and how it’s usage should be allowed for qualifying patients. Some questions that come to mind. What’s the public’s perception on smoking a joint as an acceptable delivery method considered of Medical Marijuana? How do we expect the conservative counties in Florida or better yet, the prominent cities like Naples, Florida to welcome the smell of Marijuana Smoke when leaving a restaurant with their family? That’s a hard sale.

Vaping is allowed as a delivery system to administer Medical Marijuana. Isn’t this the same as smoking? When you vape, you inhale a measured dose with the formulated strains of your choice. A patient is basically vaping Cannabis oil in an electronic cigarette. Vapor is produced as a by-product, not smoke so an odor is minimal if any. Most importantly, this is a measured dose.

There are several other delivery methods authorized with Amendment 2. They include vaping, tinctures, oil drops, lozenges, nasal sprays, capsules, and a syringe to name a few. When you consider these delivery methods and witness the results, especially in children with cancer or epilepsy, it makes you think twice about the value of “Medical Marijuana.”

The American people have been brain washed to think Marijuana is a dangerous drug when in fact it’s quite the opposite. The healing benefits of Medical Marijuana are undeniable which is why 29 States have implemented Medical Marijuana Programs and many patients across the country are receiving the life saving benefits of this plant. For those who failed math because they smoked to much at Woodstock, that’s well over half the country that believe and voted to have at least Medical Marijuana as an option to traditional medicine.

In Florida, in order to become licensed with the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, you must be an M.D. or D.O. and take a course that was originally 8 hours and now has been abbreviated to 2 hours. But, the state has not released the new course, and those medical practitioners that are eligible to take this course must wait. Some may view this as a blessing, considering there are over 1,000 physicians that can certify a patient and recommend Medical Marijuana in Florida, but the majority have no idea what they are doing.

Why can’t a holistic physician like a chiropractor become licensed to recommend Cannabis? One would think they know more about natural medicine than the traditionally trained physicians (M.D. or D.O.) that studied books written by “Big Pharma.” To add salt to the wound, the amount of pain management physicians, (you know the ones that are partially responsible for the massive “opioid epidemic” in Florida) that have now decided to “go green” and obtain their Medical Marijuana license, in conjunction with prescribing poison to our society will make your stomach turn and your blood boil.

So why did we open this article describing Florida’s Medical Marijuana program as being in a state of complete disarray and severely flawed at many levels? When you combine the majority of inexperienced and uneducated licensed Medical Marijuana physicians, operating under parameters that were written by people clearly in denial of the medicinal benefits of Medical Marijuana, it makes a recipe for disaster.

The icing on the cake? The Office of Medical Marijuana Use, which is the office in charge of approving and issuing Medical Marijuana cards for qualifying patients here in Florida currently has over 40,000 patients registered (As of September, 2017). Rumor has it, they are under staffed with only 12 employees and 9 of them are part time. So once you qualify, see your physician for the required (and ridiculous) Physical evaluation, and go through the motions of submitting your passport photo, driver’s license copy, and sending in your check for $75.00 to the state, expect to wait between 45 and 60 days for your approval. This is as of September, 2017.

But hey, if you are looking for an opioid or any other harmful synthetic drug through your doctor, they can have you in and out in 15 minutes and on your way to Walgreens. And it would be covered under your insurance with a small co pay for most.

Marijuana is still a Federally illegal drug and is labeled a schedule 1, which means the substance has no medicinal value and is classified the same as Heroin! Insurance won’t cover it and the physicians recommending it are at risk of losing everything they’ve worked for. These issues may justify why some of the so called “compassionate” “caring” doctors that are licensed to recommend Medical Marijuana are charging $400 to $500 per visit. But hey, that’s not as criminal as prescribing your child Oxycontin which ultimately led to them to Heroin right?

The Smart Choice is The Natural Choice

We are in the worst opioid and Heroin epidemic in history and no one wants to acknowledge it. It’s time for us to wake up! Especially here in Florida because Medical Marijuana could be embraced as a blessing, not the “evil devil’s weed” that our government instilled in our minds.

It’s no longer taboo, the more we get educated, the more lives we will save.

No one has ever died because of an overdose on Marijuana, EVER! Yet over 100 overdoses occurred per month in only the past 7 months in Lee County, Florida along. That’s 3.3 people per day, chances are, several people have overdosed in the state of Florida in the time you read this article. Be compassionate and let the trauma of this tragedy resonate for a moment.

Florida owes Mr. John Morgan an incredible amount of gratitude for his willingness to risk his reputation, especially with conservatives, as he pioneers a clear path for patient access to medical marijuana certifications here in Florida. So we close this article with two questions: Will he run for governor? And will you vote for him if he does?

How To Get Your Florida Medical Marijuana Application

If you’re interested in submitting a Florida Medical Marijuana Application, we can help you navigate the process as quickly and easily as possible.

Patience is required since the state has made the process difficult and frustrating. However help is here with My Florida Green. We have partnered with Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors and custom-built a software platform to help make the process easy, fast, and fairly priced.

Check out the below walk through of our simplified process.

It is important to follow all the steps of the process to ensure that your application is not declined.

We’ll go through the steps and ease your mind, we make this much easier than the state has tried to make it.

Talk to Your Doctor About Your Florida Medical Marijuana Application

Your primary doctor may or may not be on board with Florida Medical Marijuana and may or may not have completed the certification process required to provide a Florida Medical Marijuana Application. If they have, chances are they are waiting for the rules and regulations to unfold and are not participating in recommendations. Don’t panic, there are options.

The state does require that you have a relationship with a physician who is licensed with the Office of Compassionate Use before gaining access to your state issued Florida Medical Marijuana card. If your doctor is not marijuana-friendly or is not licensed with the Office of Compassionate Use, at least you’ll have record of your visits and diagnosis which will be required to obtain your Florida Medical Marijuana recommendation.

Document your Diagnosis

The State of Florida requires a documented diagnosis of a qualifying condition to be considered for a Florida Medical Marijuana Card. If your primary care physician isn’t a registered Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor with the state, simply ask for your medical records including your diagnosis.

Keep in mind that your entire medical history is not necessary for your Medical Marijuana Application. Keep it simple! These records can be used to help establish your doctor/patient relationship with a Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor.

Amendment 2 gives the recommending physician the right to determine if a condition is debilitating. Therefore, it’s important to have your conditions documented as mentioned in the second paragraph above.

Example: If you have been diagnosed with Crohn’s or P.T.S.D. you will need the diagnoses as a documented record from your previous physician. If you are looking for a diagnosis, we suggest seeing a primary care or family physician in order to obtain proper documentation.

Establishing a Doctor/Patient Relationship with My Florida Green

Now, if your primary care physician isn’t certified and/or registered with the office of compassionate use, you do have options. To find out if you have a qualifying condition to establish this new relationship, a simple online form is all you need to fill out.

You are more than welcome to search the list of licensed Florida Medical Marijuana physicians here. What you may discover is that most are waiting to see how things unfold with the Senate or they are willing to accept you as a patient for a hefty fee. Now it’s totally up to you who you choose to recommend Florida Medical Marijuana as your alternative treatment, however My Florida Green has created a simple user friendly patient access portal which utilizes The Doc App as their premier HIPAA complaint partner. Take a deep breath as it’s not as confusing as it seems.

You’ll need to create a HIPAA-compliant profile to establish your new doctor/patient relationship.

Florida Medical Marijuana Application

If you already know you qualify, you can skip all the jazz above and choose your local doctor and create an online profile here to get started. Keep in mind that this is a virtual clinic and should be taken seriously. Your initial consultation will be completed via video chat with one of our medical professionals so please put some clothes on.

Providing you have answered your medical questions and have uploaded your diagnosis into your profile you’ll be registered with The Office of Compassionate Use. From there, they’ll prompt you to complete the medical marijuana card application which should be received via email once you are registered.

Following this evaluation, you’ll be scheduled for an in-office exam (face to face exam) with our board-certified marijuana physician who is licensed with the Office of Compassionate Use. This 90-day face to face visit doesn’t typically last longer than 15 minutes.

From here, a treatment plan will be created for you and you can ask the doctor any questions you might have.

Submitting Your Florida Medical Marijuana Application

You will be taken care of like family. We know you have conditions and have been through enough. We created My Florida Green for patients looking for an alternative to synthetic medicines as we believe it is your right to choose.

You are creating a HIPAA-compliant profile in a secure online platform. This should be considered a doctor’s visit. Be prepared to answer medical questions, just minus the sick people coughing on you!

After filling our your Florida Medical Marijuana Application, you are going to see a licensed Medical Marijuana physician in-person, and should have your approval letter within 2-4 weeks.

It isn’t as hard as it appears

Once you have access to medical marijuana you will realize that it is worth the wait. Yes, you’re likely to be a little frustrated with the waiting period, we definitely understand that. That is why My Florida Green has created a process that doesn’t have you running all over town or wasting entire days sitting in a doctor’s office. We want your pathway to medical marijuana to be as smooth and easy as possible.

Our platform was built with positive user experience and patient satisfaction in mind. Let’s get your application started so that your access to medical marijuana happens sooner rather than later.

When submitting a Registry Identification Card application, please allow 10-14 business days for initial processing. Processing time may be delayed if the application is incomplete or payment has not been received.

All applications must be submitted to the Office of Compassionate Use, and must include a full-face, passport-type color photograph, and a registration fee of $75. Compassionate Use Registry identification cards remain active for one year.

Once a card application has been approved, the patient and legal representative may receive a temporary card from the Office of Compassionate Use. A patient must have an approved card application prior to filling an order at a dispensing organization.

Keep in mind you must have a Florida Medical Marijuana recommendation by a licensed physician with the office of compassionate use to processed with your Medical Marijuana Application.

The sooner you get started, the less of the wait. Visit MyFloridaGreen.com to make it happen!

To see if your conditions qualify for Medical Marijuana in Florida, click the Get Started button below!

With Florida’s passing of Amendment 2, qualifying patients have the potential to get their Florida Medical Marijuana Certifications to treat a number of qualifying conditions. This creates an incredible opportunity for patients to access to Medical Marijuana in Florida. Patients are getting access to a potentially life-changing treatment for a variety of qualifying medical conditions.

To help qualifying patients gain this access, My Florida Green has created an easy-to-use website that connects patients to doctors and can help patients get an approval for Florida Medical Marijuana from a qualified physician in just 3 easy steps.

Facilitating the Doctor/Patient Relationship for a Streamlined Path to Medical Marijuana Certifications

My Florida Green was created to help patients connect with a qualifying physician for a Florida Medical Marijuana Certification as quickly and efficiently as possible. More than half the states in the US allow for some use of Medical Marijuana. In Florida’s state-approved program there are different laws, parameters, and qualifying conditions. Florida also has it’s own application process for Medical Marijuana Certifications.

Navigating the path from initial inquiry all the way to a Florida Medical Marijuana Certification can be a confusing process of forms, documentation, and red tape. This is particularly true at the start of a new program. Florida at the very beginning of it’s journey to legal medical usage of cannabis. In some states, patients waste weeks or months with phone calls, collecting the right documentation, visiting physicians and applying for a card.

Sometimes, a patient is turned down for a Florida Medical Marijuana Certification because they didn’t follow all the steps. We ensure they’re followed in the order that the state mandates.

My Florida Green streamlines and facilitates the path to Medical Marijuana in Florida:

My Florida Green has a network of licensed physicians positioned across Florida

Our easy-to-use platform will streamline the process of getting a cannabis recommendation for a qualifying condition

Just 3 Easy Steps to a Florida Medical Marijuana Certification

1)Establish Care– Patients simply choose their local doctor and fill out our custom-built, secure, HIPAA-compliant online application. You’ll have a profile created in less than five minutes

2)See The Doctor – Once you’re qualified for a Florida Medical Marijuana Certification we will email you. This email will schedule your medical marijuana evaluation with a licensed Florida Medical Marijuana Doctors.

3)Receive Your Approval– The final step will be an in-person examination with one of our licensed Medical Marijuana Doctors. They will make a medical marijuana recommendation if the patient qualifies

How Much Does It Cost For My Florida Medical Marijuana Certification?

Registering with My Florida Green is $99 for the application and $199 for the doctor’s visit.

What About Privacy?

My Florida Green does not retain any medical information. Any medical information that is passed on to participating physicians by My Florida Green will be done so within HIPAA guidelines.

My Florida Green is the Face of 21st Century Medical Marijuana Healthcare

These are physicians who have a solid reputation and are interested in a long- term, professional relationship with both My Florida Green and the patients they serve.

My Florida Green is a modern solution that quickly delivers Medical Marijuana Certifications and keeps patients comfortable. We eliminate patient overflow and long wait times at the doctor’s office. We’re committed to helping qualifying patients get their Florida Medical Marijuana Certifications. And we have compassionate physicians who are experienced in the use of medical cannabis products.

The face of modern medical care is changing and My Florida Green is leading the way. Qualifying patients can gain access to Florida Medical Marijuana Certifications and the medicines they need to live a better quality of life.

To see if your conditions qualify for Florida Medical Marijuana Certifications, click the Get Started button below!

Forgive Them Lord, They Know Not What They’ve Done

Skeptics and critics of Medical Marijuana are quick to condemn the plant and the patients that utilize it as criminal drug seekers just seeking a high.

They often make quick judgements from memories of hippies who abused the medicine and old propaganda like Reefer Madness.

Here at My Florida Green we’ve spent the last 13 months (as of November 2017) helping nearly 1,000 qualified Floridians successfully navigate the labyrinth of medical marijuana regulations and know this to be false. People need this medicine and the program is giving qualified people in pain incredible results and relief.

Solving A Synthetic Problem with Natural Alternatives

Anyone that doubts the reality of the pain, suffering, and disease we help patients eliminate on a daily basis should spend an hour speaking with the people we’re helping.

Not only are our clients who microdose medical marijuana highly qualified under the law, they’re also not seeking a powerful “high.” They are regular people like you and me that just want to enjoy life, take care of their families, and themselves. They’re tired of synthetic drugs that either don’t work, lead them on “side-effect roulette” with additional medications, or have incredible risks of life-ruining addiction.

Determination and Perseverance

Despite a long and ever changing list of frustrating regulatory changes and medical checks, determined souls are breaking free from synthetic drugs and access natural medicine. As of November 2017, over 59,000 Floridians have gotten their Medical Marijuana cards. Congratulations!

As we know from hearing their first-hand testimony, many of these people experienced major difficulties, uninformed physicians, and expensive approval processes to get their Florida Medical Marijuana certifications.

Here at My Florida Green, it is our mission to help all qualified Floridians access their medicine safely, quickly, and easily. If you are struggling we can help.

Can Less Equal More?

“Most people don’t know about microdosing,” says Dr. Michelle Ross, neuroscientist and founder of IMPACT network, a nonprofit organization that uses empirical medical research to find new cannabis-related treatments for patients. “They just blast their system with cannabis or high amounts of THC, and that is not always the best approach.”

A micro-dose is the lowest possible dose to achieve an effect that does not influence your mindset or ability to perform. It’s a “relief” dose.

A 2012 study on cancer patients who were unresponsive to opioids were given low, medium, and high doses of a THC/CBD compound. Surprisingly they found that patients who were microdosing medical marijuana showed the greatest reductions in pain, while those who got high doses had increased pain levels.

Another 2014 study done on prisoners with PTSD treated them with 4mg of a synthetic cannabinoid (although beneficial in this case, the author does not recommend synthetic cannabis) and found significant improvements in PTSD-associated insomnia, chronic pain, and nightmares.

“When you raise the dose sometimes you get diminished benefits, and sometimes you get the opposite of what you are looking for,” says Dr. Dustin Sulak.

This is all great news for patients seeking relief with medical marijuana. By utilizing small “micro doses”, patients legitimize cannabis as medicine, maintain their desired state of consciousness, and receive the benefits of the plant.

The Way Forward

For people suffering in emotional and physical pain, we are honored to fight this fight for you. MyFloridaGreen.com helps you gain and maintain your Florida Medical Marijuana certification, get the education you need to get the effects you want, and get relief from pain.

To see if your conditions qualify for Medical Marijuana in Florida, click the Get Started button below!

How to Choose the Right Strain of Medical Marijuana?

Navigating the world of Medical Marijuana in Florida can be an overwhelming process, so My Florida Green has compiled this directory to assist you in finding the strain and delivery method that works best for you and your symptoms.

Below you’ll find a list of all approved Medical Marijuana dispensaries in Florida.

Knowledge is Power

Below you’ll find the current strains that approved Medical Marijuana dispensaries in Florida are providing.

The best way to see the effects of each strain is to look them on Leafly.com, they have great information for each strain’s effects, both positive and undesirable. If you’ve found a great strain, or are confused, please leave your comments below so our community can learn and grow together!